Swinging door.



No. 731,407. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903 W. R. PITT.. SWINGING DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1902. no MODEL.

2 SEBETS-SHEET 1.

M HI: I: i I 47 4 15 g 2 lllllIllllVIllllllllHllllllHlllll5 l Z M fi m/32%,

PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. R. PITT. swmame DOOR. APPLIOATIOK FILED AUG. 14, 1902.

no MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

ATENT FMCE...

SWINGING DOOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,407, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed August 14, 1902. Serial No. 119,591. (No model.)

My invention relates to swinging doors,-

gates, or the like, and particularly to that class thereof in which the same is swung or pivoted on a vertical axis located intermediate between the vertical edges thereof; and

the particular objects of the invention are to provide a swingingdoor which when pushed upon by the user to open the same will re quire much less space to swing in than if the door were pivoted at one of its vertical edges and to stop the door or gate in its closed position and maintain it there, at the same time to have it free or unlocked, so that it can be readily swung open, and to cause the door to be automatically started or swung to from its full open position, and thereby avoid any tendency of the door getting on a dead-center when it is pushed open.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the various novel and peculiar arrangements and combinations of the several parts of the apparatus, all as hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

I have illustrated a type of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is an edge View of a swinging door embodying my improvements and shown as standing in full closed position. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, the plane of the section being indicated by line 2 2, Fig. 1. ln this view there is also shown in dotted lines two positions of the door other than the closed one. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, the plane of the section being indicated by line 3 3, Fig. 1. In this view there is also shown in dotted lines two positions of the door other than the closed one. Fig. 4c is a vertical longitudinal section taken centrally of the door and through the pivoted slide and spring mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numbers of reference designate like parts throughout, 1 and 2 indicate the walls or sides, respectively, of a doorway or opening, upon the latter side 2 of which the apparatus is mounted.

3 is the door or gate, which is hinged on a vertical axis at 4 to an upper horizontallyswinging support or brace 5, the inner end of which is hinged at 6 on a vertical axis to a fixed point at the side or on the wall 2. At the points 7and 8 the lower end of the dooris hinged on vertical axes to a horizontally-swinging support or brace 9, which itself is hinged at 10 and 11 on vertical axes to a fixed point on the wall 2. The pivotal axis of each of the hingejoints 6, 10, and 11 is in the same vertical line,

likewise that of the pivotal joints 4, 7, and

8,whichlatt-er are on a line a considerable distance from the inner edge of the door, the distance indicated in the construction herewith shown being about half-way between the inner and outer vertical edges of the door. With this arrangement of the horizontallyswinging supports 5 and 9 the free or outer edge of the door when pushed in the direction of the adjacent arrow in Fig. 2 describes a line in the horizontal, (indicated at a,) and which line makes a very sharp turn inwardly toward the side of the doorway, owing to the fact that the center on which the door swings on the supports is itself translated on an arc backwardly and inwardly, as indicated by the line b in said Fig. 2. The dotted-line position of the door shown in Fig. 2, in which it stands at about an angle of forty-five degrees, is an intermediate position of the door when it is being swung open, and the full-open position is shown as lying well in toward the side wall 2. Inpulling the door open in the manner described the rapid recession of the free edge of the door which the operator is to pass soon leaves him a free passage-way, and

swinging the door in this manner requires comparatively little effort.

In swinging the door in the reverse direction to the adjacent arrow shown in Fig. 3 the outer edge of the door moves on a curved line, (indicated at 0,) and which is a more gradual curve than the line (b described by the free edge of the door when swung in the opposite direction, and while the door makes a wider sweep with its free edge in opening in this direction (because of the pivotal point of the door on the support not being swung inwardly on the line b so rapidly as in the other case) nevertheless the path described by such free edge of the door is less gradual than an arc, and the opening of the door is accomplished more quickly than where the door swings on an arc. The inclined dottedline position of the door in this Fig. 3 shows the door as partially open when beiugswung in the direction referred to, while the dottedline position of the door lying parallel with the side 2 shows the door in full open position. It will be noted that when the door is swung in the direction-of the adjacent arrow the inner edge of the door moves in a direction contrary to the arrow, as indicated in Fig. 2, while in the other case when the door is swung in the reverse direction its inner edge travels in the same direction as the arrow, as indicated in Fig. 3. In other words, when the free edge of the door is swung in one direction the inner edge of the door moves in the opposite direction.

In order to have the door stop in the position it assumes when closed and yet be free to be readily swung open, I provide springs which tend to keep the door in closed position, and at the same time the strength of the springs is such as to be readily overcome in opening the door. Near the upper end of the door is arranged a horizontal reciprocating slide 12, moving on gnideways 13, formed in a suitable opening in the wall 2, and to this slide 12 the inner edge of the door is pivoted at 14. Back of 'the slide is a traveler 15, which moves freely on a horizontal rod 16, about which is arranged a spiral spring 17, one end of which is fixed at 18, while the other end is attached to the traveler 15. The traveler 15 has a projection 19, which engages loosely with the end of the slide that is farthest from the spring, and these parts are so adjusted that the spring is under considerable tension whenever the slide 12 is moved from the position which it assumes when the door is closedin a direction away from the spring, as will be understood from Fig. 2, wherein when the door 3 is swung from the full open position into the dottedline one the slide is carried along the rod 16 to the farther end thereof and the spring 17 is stretched accordingly, as shown in dotted lines. When the spring 17 is thus stretched and the door is released, it will be drawn by the action of the spring, acting through the traveler 15 and the slide 12, back into closed position.

Near the lower edge of the door is arranged in a suitable recess in the side wall 2 a slide 20, similar to slide 12, and which travels on guideways 21, and this slide is pivoted at 22 The slide 20 is engaged by a projection 23 on a traveler 24, moving on a horizontal rod 25, arranged in the recess back of the slide. A spring 26, surrounding the guide-rod 25, is secured at 27 to a fixed point, while its other end is made fast to the traveler 24. The traveler 24 engages loosely with the slide 20 upon theside thereof remote from this spring 26,and which sideis opposite to the side of the slide 12 that is engaged by its traveler 15. In this way the spring 26 serves to pull the door into closed position when it is released after being swung open, the spring 26 acting in an opposite direction from the spring 17 at the upper end of the door, as indicated in Fig.3.

The traveleror follower 15, which acts upon the upper slide 12, hasa small projection 28, which engages with a fixed pin 29, arranged within the recess in which the spring mechanism is mounted, and when the parts'are in normal position and the door stands closed, as indicated in Fig. 2, the projection 28 is in engagement with pin 29, so as to prevent the spring 17 from pulling upon the traveler. In the same way the traveler or follower 24, near the base of the door, is provided with a projection 30, which engages with a pin 31, fixed within the recess at that point, and when the door stands in closed position this projection 30 is drawn against the fixed pin 21, and the spring 26 is thereby prevented from drawing the slide 23 beyond the point at which it stands when the door is closed. In this way the-door is normally maintained in closed position, and either one or the other of the said springs is at once brought into play upon the door being swung in one direction or the other, and such spring serves to immediately restore the door to closed position when it is released. These springs 17 and 26, acting in opposite directions upon their respective travelers 15 and 24, which engage loosely opposite sides of the respcctive slides 12 and 20, act to stop the door in closed position and at the same time leave it free to be readily swung open, and this is an important feature of my present invention.

In order to prevent the door when swung fully open from getting on a dead-center, I

provide means for springing or thrusting the door back from such position, and such means is made operative by the door being thrown into open position. There are many ways in which this may be done; but I have shown but one way in the present construction and that the simple one of having a spring 32, which is fixed to a stationary point 33 and is acted upon by a fixed projection 34, which stands out at right angles from the swinging supports 5 and 9. These springs 32, being preferably located one at the'upper and lower end of the deer, are compressed as the door is swung open, and this compression increases the farther the door is opened, so that when the door is released in open position these springs acting as a reserve force will pre- IIO 'vent any liability of the door getting on a dead-center, as they act to spring the door away from the wall toward which it is swung.

My improvements while shown as applied to aswinging door are not necessarilylimited to such application, as they may be employed in connection with a gate, a shutter, or the like. This particular form of swinging door will be found especially useful in places where but little space is available for placing a swinging door, as it will be noted from Figs'. 2 and 8 in particular that the sweep of the free edge of the door is confined to a space that is quite narrow when compared with the width of the door itself.

The drawings show the invention embodied in a single form of door; but this has merely been done in order to condense the drawings, and it will be readily understood thatby duplicating the construction described in reference to the single door and placing it opposite thereto a double swinging door may be provided.

Another important advantage found in the construction of a door hinged substantially in the manner herein set forth is that the wind-pressure upon the door is practically balanced, so that there is no liability of the door being blown open by the wind. In fact, the pressure of the wind, which is substantially equal upon each portion of the door lying each side of the hinge-line, will assist in the opening movement of the door, since one edge thereof moves in the direction that the wind does, and after the initial movement occurs the wind-pressure will become unbalanced, as the wind will be diverted toward the receding edge of the door. Moreover, in cases where a door of this character is so arranged that it can only be swung in one direction from its closed position-that is, a door which has to be pulled upon to open it from one side and pushed upon to open it from the otherthe manipulation in opening such a door is rendered easier by the windpressure being balanced, as described.

I wish to be understood as not limiting my invention to the precise form of construction herein set forth, as various modifications may be made in the different parts thereof without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. The combination of a swinging support or brace hinged on a vertical axis at its inner end to a fixed point, a swinging door hinged on a vertical axis to the outer end of said support at a point between its vertical edges and adapted to swing on such vertical pivotal axis in either direction, and spring mechanism acting to normally bring the door to a closed position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a swinging support or brace hinged on a vertical axis at its inner end to a fixed point, a swinging door hinged on a vertical axis to the outer end of said support at a point between its vertical edges and adapted to swing'on such vertical pivotal axis ineither direction, a suitably-mounted horizontally-reciprocating slide pivoted to the inner edge of the door, and spring mechanism acting upon said slide and serving to hold the slide in a position which normally holds the door closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of an upper and a lower swinging support each hinged on a vertical axis at its inner end to a fixed point, a swinging door pivoted or hinged on a vertical axis to the outer end of each of the supports at a point between the vertical edges of the door and adapted to swing in either direction upon such vertical axis, and springs acting upon the inner edge of the door in opposite directions tending to maintain the door in closed position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of an upper and a lower swinging support hinged on a vertical axis at its inner end to a fixed point, aswinging door hinged on a vertical axis to the outer ends of said supports between the vertical edges of the door and adapted to swing in either direction upon such pivoted axis, an upper and a lower horizontally-reciprocating slide provided with a guide and pivoted to the inner edge of the door, and a spring acting upon each slide and tending to keep the door in closed position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of a swinging support or brace hinged on a vertical axis at its inner end to a fixed point, a swinging door hinged on a verticalaxis to the outer end of said support at a point between its vertical edges and adapted to swing on such vertical pivotal axis in either direction, and means for starting the door to swing from itsfull open position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of a swinging support or brace hinged on a vertical axis at its'inner end to a fixed point, a swinging door hinged on a vertical axis to the outer end of said support at a point between its vertical edgesand adapted to swing on such vertical pivotal axis in either direction, and spring mechanism acting to normally hold the door in closed position, and means for starting the door to swing from its full open position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of a swinging support or brace hinged on a vertical axis at its inner end to a fixed point, a swinging door hinged on a vertical axis to the outer end of said support at a point between its vertical edges and adapted to swing on such vertical pivotal axis in either direction, spring mechanism acting to normally hold the door in closed position, and a spring device compressed in the opening movement of the door and serving to force the door from full open position to over- :0 its inner "ertical edge whereby the windpressure thereon tends to balance itself when the door is closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the two subscrib- I5 ing witnesses.

WILLIAM R. PITT. Witnesses:

SAMUEL M. CHESNUT, WILLIs FOWLER. 

